Have you been to Tennessee Sally's?

I was back in The Underground for about a month (just long enough to put the studio back in working order) and then we are off again. That means everything off the floor in the event there is a flood while we are away ( The studio is underground, you know.) We packed The Wanderer, loaded the tandem and headed to Townsend, Tennessee to bicycle and hike. (More about that over on our travel blog, )

I was delighted to find my favorite shop, Tennessee Sally’s is thriving.

Opened about 3 years ago with 40 vendors, it now hosts around 70 local artisans. Sally’s husband (sorry I didn’t get his name,) was gracious to allow me to take photographs.

This sparkly hand bag just had to leave with me!

Not only does it suit my personality, but the artist uses her proceeds to support a cause that is dear to my heart.

The cherry almond scent of Misty Mountain soap and body lotion also followed me home.

I will be back in the studio on Tuesday with a request for another Tipsy Tuesday a Thirsty Thursday flag. This one will go to Knoxville, TN. Love that our friends around the country are bringing friends and neighbors together one glass at a time.

Tipsy Tuesday Flag

Another Tipsy Tuesday flag is in the mail! This one is en route to Buena Vista, Colorado. It will join flags in Montana, North Carolina and Kentucky in bringing friends and neighbors together, one glass at a time.

Stenciled with craft paint on burlap. Stencil  was made with Silhouette Portrait.

Nature Theme Prayer Flags

What does one do when a Prayer Flag Swap is cancelled? Finish the flags and hang them in the breeze, of course! One of the reasons I like doing prayer flags is to experiment with various techniques and products without concern of perfection. Since I will not be swapping with other artist, the pressure is off and I can just have fun. (But I will miss receiving truly beautiful art from others in the swap.)

Having bought a new printer for the RV and knowing I would be creating while traveling, I chose to experiment with printing on fabric for this project. This sweet little Epson WF-100 is not much larger than a book.

(I prefer Epson printers for fabric printing as they use the Dura Brite ink that doesn’t smear and is pretty much water proof.)

Usually I adhere fabric to either heavy duty freezer paper or to the sticky side of a full size mailing label (my preferred method) before sending it through the printer. Since we were traveling in a small RV I needed to limit my supplies so I took along June Taylor Fabric Sheets for ink jet printers.

Using photos from our winter trip, I cropped and sized them in Photoshop Elements and printed them on the fabric sheets. It was a long drive across the country, so I embellished with embroidery as I rode along (no, I don’t drive The Wanderer.) When I arrived home, I stitched a casing and added eyelash trim. 

The printer performed perfectly, no jamming or ink smears.

Fabric pens travel nicely (aren’t messy like fabric paint ;) I used Tulip Fabric Pens  to paint on drop cloth (which is becoming a favorite canvas.) Adding buttons, beads and a couple little butterflies, it is quite a cheerful little flag.

Now that I am back in The Underground, I have choices. My plan is to finish those projects I have started before I began something new. With a head full of ideas and a wide selection of supplies, I bet that doesn’t happen.  And now I hear my garden calling…..and I must go.

Walking to Art

Currently we are in College Station, Texas; Handy Randy’s hometown. The Wanderer is taking a rest while we are hanging out at my mother-in-law’s house near the campus of Texas A & M University. When visiting I love walking the many paths and sidewalks around town. One of my favorite walks takes me to the J. Wayne Stark and The Forsyth.  art galleries on the A & M Campus.

Currently in the Starks gallery is the Frames of Mind Exhibit

as well as works by Fredrick Carter, a former architecture student at Texas A &M.

Reduction of architectural structures to their basic forms.

Exhibiting in the Forsyth are works by Joseph Henry Sharp, a popular Native American Artist in the early 20th century.

As often is the case, my favorite exhibits are those of the students; probably because of the diverse styles and mediums.

It was a bit serendipitous to find what looks like an arrangement of polymer clay canes, 

as I have recently renewed my interest in working with polymer clay by joining the Polymer Clay for Newbies, Not so New and Tips and Advice Facebook Page. 

On Tuesday we will point The Wanderer east and head toward home and back to The Underground. I must admit I am looking forward to returning to the studio where I can display my WIPs (works in progress) to evaluate, critique and make changes. (Now if I can discipline myself to not try to play with all the cool supplies I have hoarded; think art papers, craft paint, resin, scrapbook/card papers, fabric, wood, you name it. Oh the nemesis of AADD!)

An Artsy Community at it’s Best

Winter has come to an end and not soon enough for a number of you. Handy Randy and I had a fun time exploring in the warm southwestern  states. Currently we are back with family (and consistent, but slow internet)  in College Station, Texas. Now that I do not have to be so mindful of data use I will share a bit of my finds while traveling.

Bisbee, Arizona continues to be one of our favorite places to hang out,

explore and do a lot of walking stair climbing. 

And it is so artsy!

More details about this quirky, artsy town can be found on our retirement blog,  Living Richly in Retirement 

It was my intention to experiment with colored pencil drawing during our Winter 2018 trip; Bisbee provided some very interesting and colorful subjects. 

Looking forward to getting home and catching up with my mentors at PAPA Gallery. And I have a good friend and pastel artist who as agreed to give me some instructions in working with pastels. Exciting times ahead!

Happy New Year from College Station, Texas!

We are just about at the end our stay with family and ready to head out on another adventure with The Wanderer.

Between holiday celebrations, games of dominos and hanging out with family and friends I did manage to do a wee bit of arts and crafts.

I created some note cards from my drawing of The Wanderer.

Hmm…. perhaps this could be the start of a collection.

This is an attempt at drawing with colored pencils using Alyona Nickelsen’s book, Colored Pencil Painting Bible.

I am determined to master colored pencil drawing before returning home in April. (Master might be a bit of an overstatement.)

Not much progress has been made on the Zenbroidery project,

but there are still 3 months and hundreds of miles of stitching to go on this trip.

Now that Christmas has past I can share the photo of a gift Handy Randy made for his brother.

They are getting broken in with many games of dominos these past two weeks.

While many of you are snuggled in your studios creating fabulous art and/or craft projects during this cold month of January, I will be hiking in Texas (maybe doing a bit of drawing and a lot of reading.)